Metalworking machine



Sept. 29, 1953 E. STIEFELMAYER 2,

METALWORKING MACHINE I Filed June 20, 1949 a Sheets-Sheet 1 Tull B ,4. A6 15 ATTORNE Sept. 29, 1953 E. STIEFELMAYER h 2,653,551

METALWORKING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORYr/Fawn yew.

Ill-l ATTORNEY wSept? 1953- E. STIEFELMAYER 7 2,653,561

METALWORKING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet s a4 I A :5: I60 U I .44 J g J I 1 II 67 E 34 33 Y/ W 75 76 4 I I 22 1 x 20 7! 1 2/ l76 fl 1 0| F l 2/ J ,u

I BY l I 'p' l ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1953 E. STIEFELMAYER METALWORKINGMACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 20, 1949 INVENTOR fu ss/v 1.5 TE/FilMA aw.

1 1 s ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1953 E. STIEFELMAYER 2,653,561

METALWORKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20. 1949 INVENTOR 45/(fir/Fawn YEP.

W A ATTORNEY Sept. 29, 1953 E. STIEFELMAYER 2,653,551

METALWORKING MACHINE Filed June 20, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR fi/yiw LEVEFAMM'YA-A.

15 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1953 METALWORKING MACHINE EugenStiefelmayer, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to United Aircraft Products, Inc.,Dayton, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application June 20, 1949, Serial No. 100,137

6 Claims.

This invention relates to metal working machinery, particularly as usedin the producing of kitchenware by a rotary forging process.

It has heretofore been known to make muffin pans, cake pans and the likeby such a process, one or more cavities being formed in a flat metalblank by rolling portions thereof over a frustoconical forming die. Anextrusion-spinning operation is carried out by which the material actedupon is elongated to form a cavity in which the wall is relativelythinner than the top and bottom portions which retain the originalthickness of the blank.

While, as will be evident from the subsequent detailed disclosure, thepresent invention may have other applications, a particular use thereofis in the manufacture of an article of kitchenware characterized by aplurality of cavities, the bottoms of which are elevated, there being anannular space between the elevated portion and the outer wall of thecavity. Such pans are useful in preparing congealed molds, having adepression on one side to receive a filler substance, and. in preparingsimilarly used cakes and pastry shells.

To produce a pan so characterized is an object of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for metalworking by which a flat metal blank may be shaped with integrally formedannular cavities in a minimum number of steps and with a minimum numberof machine operations. In the latter connection, it is proposed tocombine in a single machine first and second rotary forging devicesoperable respectively to form the elevated bottom of the cavities and.the outer side wall thereof, a semi-finished and a finished pan beingproduced in a single cycle of machine operation.

The invention presents numerous features of advantage and has otherobjects, all of which will more clearly appear from the followingdescription when read in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine in accordance with theinstant invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the machine;

Fig. is a side view of the machine;

Fig. i is a detail view in longitudinal section of one of the formingdies and associated presser head assemblies;

Fig. 5 is a partly diagrammatic view of of the operating controls of themachine;

Fig. 6 is a view of a semi-finished pan as produced in the first stageof the forming operation; and

Fig. '7 is a view of a finished pan as produced in the second stage ofthe forming operation.

some

Referring to the drawings, a machine is there shown illustrative of theapparatus of this invention, and which is useful in practicing themethod of this invention, the machine producing an article ofkitchenware as shown in Fig. '7.

The machine is relatively large and heavy, and made up of numerous partsand combinations of parts, not all of which are here shown in detail.Among the parts not clearly shown are certain electrical switches andhydraulic valves by which the machine cycles are initiated, timed, andterminated. These controls are largely conventional, and will bereferred to only generally.

Referring to Fig. 1, the machine comprises a relatively stationary baseID of generally rectangular shape. Adjacent each of the four corners ofthe base If! is an upstanding post II, the upper ends of the posts IIcooperatively engaging and supporting a plate I2 which is thusvertically spaced from the base It but held in fixed relation thereto.Slidably mounted upon the posts II is a platen I3 which normally is atrest within a tray I4 mounted on the base I 0. As shown in Fig. 2, thereis attached to the underside of the platen I3 a rod I5 which extendsvertically downward through the tray I4 into a hydraulic cylinder I6mounted within the base ID. The cylinder I6 contains a piston (notshown) connected to the rod I5 and reciprocable within the cylinderunder the influence of hydraulic fluid alternately supplied to theopposite ends of the cylinder by flexible fluid conduits I7 and I8. Theconduits I1 and I8 communicate with a source of hydraulic pressure fluidthrough a four way valve control I9 (Fig. 3), the operation of which maybe automatically controlled by a cam and lever mechanism 20. Undercontrol of the valve 19, the operation of which may be initiatedmanually or automatically, or both, pressure fluid first is directedthrough conduit H to the bottom of cylinder US where it acts to projectpiston rod I5 from the cylinder to raise the platen I3 upward along theposts II. To lower the platen, valve I9 functions to discontinue thesupply of pressure fluid through conduit I! and to apply pressurethrough conduit I8. Accordingly, piston rod I5 is retracted withincylinder 86 and the platen I3 is moved downward along the posts II.

It is important, for reasons which will here inafter more clearlyappear, that the platen I3 remain in a flat horizontal plane during itsreciprocating motion. To this end, there is rigidly set in the base I0 apair of upstanding toothed racks 2 I, one of which is arranged adjacenteach end of the platen I3. The platen carries a pinion 22 at each endthereof meshing with the teeth on an associated rack 2|. As the platen5.2 rises, the pinions 22 roll along racks 2| and preclude thepossibility of one end of the platen rising more rapidly than the otherto produce undesirable tilting of the platen.

The work of shaping the metal blanks is carried out within the areabetween the platen l3 and the plate l2. Arranged in spaced relation tothe platen l3 and plate I 2 is a table 23 presenting parallel slideways24 and 25 opening to the front of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1.Supported by the table 23 for fore and aft movement inthe machine is areciprocating member 26, upon the front of which is mounted a pair ofbrackets 21 and 28 respectively movable within the slideways 24 and 25.On the side edges of the reciprocating member 26 are toothed racks 29(see Fig. 3) meshing with respective gears 3|. Each gear 3| is supportedby a bracket 32 mounted on the table 23 and carries a pinion 33 meshingwith a; vertical rack 34 secured to the platen l3. The arrangement issuchthatas the platen l3 rises, the pinions 33 and gears 3| are rotatedin a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, with the resultthat the racks 29 andreciprocating member 26 of which they area part aremovedrightwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3, or outwardly relatively to thefront of the machine. As the platen l3 descends, the pinions 33 andgears 3| are turned in a clockwise direction to move the reciprocatingmember leftward, as viewed in Fig. 3, and inwardly relatively to thefront of the machine. The operation is such as to cause the brackets 21and 28 on the member 26 to reciprocate within the slideways 24 and 25 asthe platen 3 moves upward and downward. Metal blanks placed on theslideways 24 and 25 while the member 26 is in its outer position,accordingly, will be moved or fed into the machine by the brackets 21and 28 when the member 26 moves inward.

Actuated by the bracket 21, a metal blank mounted on the slideway 24will move into overlying relation to a plate 35 in which is formed anumber of openings 36. Theopenings 36 overlie and are adapted to receivea corresponding series of forming dies 31 mounted on or integrallyformed with the platen I3. Each die 31 is formed at its outer end with afrusto-conical surface 38.

A metal blank moved into the machine by bracket 28 on reciprocatingmember 26 comes. to rest in overlying relation toa series of openings 39in table 23 adapted to receive a series of forming dies 4| mounted onthe platen l3 in parallel side-by-side relation to the series of formingdies 31. The dies 4| have frusto-conical surfaces 42, and, in addition,are formed with depressions or cavities 43 in their frustums. There aresix each of the forming dies 31 and 4|, corresponding to the sixcavities of the pan of Fig. 7, and the dies 31 are relatively smaller indiameter and height than the dies 4|.

Overlying each forming die 31 and 4| is a presser head assembly whichmay be more clearly seen by reference to Fig. 4 where one of theseassemblies is shown in longitudinal section. As there indicated, eachhead assembly comprises a head 44, in the outer surface of which is cutthree spaced longitudinal slots 45 which are inclined relatively to theaxis of the head at an angle substantially corresponding to the anglesof the frusto-conical portions of the forming dies. Slidably mounted ineach slot 45 is a presser arm 46, mounting on its lower or outer end aroller 41. The arms 46 are connected by links 48 to a disc 49 mountedupon a tubular shaft 5|. The disc 49 is held against relativelongitudinal movement upon shaft 5| by a transverse pin 52. At its lowerend, the tubular shaft 5| is received in a counterbore in head 44.Extending upward from the head 44, the shaft 5| passes through a bearing53 in plate I2 and througha gear box 54 mounted on the plate l2. Withinthe upper wall of the gear box 54, the outer end of the shaft 5| ismounted in a bearing 55. A flange 56 on the shaft 5|, underlying bearing53, and a nut 51 thereon, overlying the bearing 55, inhibits axialmovement of the shaft 5|. Within the gear box 54, the tubular shaft 5|is keyed to a gear 58 meshing directly or indirectly with a gear 58 onthe lower end of a drive shaft. 6|. The shaft 6| extends upwardly out ofthe box 54 into driven connection with an electric motor 62 mounted ontop of the machine. The motor 62 receives its power from a suitablesource of electricity, and is energized and deenergized in harmony withthe movements of the hydraulically actuated platen I3. The gear box 54contains a number of gears 58 corresponding to the number of presserheads 44, and all the gears are intermeshed with One another so as to bedriven simultaneously upon actuation of the drive shaft 6 The primarysource of control for the motor 62 resides in a switch box 60 (see Figs.1 and 2) embodying manual and automatic controls, the latter functioningin response to movement of the right hand rack 34 which extends upwardinto cooperative relation with the switch box.

The presser head 44 is keyed or otherwise secured to the tubular shaft5| The head, accordingly, rotates with the shaft, carrying the arms 46therewith, which thus revolve about the axis of the head. Verticalmotion of the head 44 relatively to the shaft 5| is accomplished by arod 63 which extends through the shaft 5| and at its inner end isconnected to a nut 64 recessed into the bottom edge of the head 44.Within the head. bearings 65 surround the inner end of the rod 63. Therod 63 projects through and beyond the outer end'of tubular shaft 5| andabove the gear box 54 is connected to a plate 66. The plate 66 extendsbeyond the ends of the gear box 54, and, adjacent its ends, hasdependent push rods 61 (see Figs. 1 and 2) attached thereto. The rods 61extend downward through the plate 12 and through the table 23.Cooperative therewith are upstanding studs 68 mounted on the platen l3.The construction and arrangement is such that at a pre-determined pointin the upward travel of the platen 3, the studs 68 will contact the rods61 so that continued upward movement of the platen serves to elevate therods 61 and thereby plate 66 and the rods 63.

Operation of the plate 66 by the rods 61 may be better understood byreference to the partly diagrammatic view Fig. 5. As there shown, one ofthe rods 61 passes through a brake unit 68 wherein a spring 1| exerts ayielding force to maintain the plate 66 in a selected position ofadjustment. Also, as shown in Fig. 5, return of the plate 66 downward isaccomplished by rods 12, the upper ends of which project through theplate 66 and have nuts 13 fastened thereto. A spring 14 is interposedbetween each nut 13 and the plate 66 so that the nut 13 acts upon theplate through a resilient connection. The rods 12 extend downwardthrough the machine and at their lower ends each carries a nut 15, theseveral nuts 15 being engageable by the platen |3 during its downwardtravel to restore the plate 66 to a normal or starting position. Suchnormal or startingv position for the plate 66 is defined by studs lengageable with a plate 80 mounted on the gear box 54.

Returning to a consideration of the presser head assembly, it will thusbe seen that each head 44 has a rotary motion imparted to it by thepositively driven shaft and an axial motion imparted by rod 63 and plate66. The presser arms 45 partake of the rotary motion of the head becauseof their mounting in slots 45, but they are inhibited by the links 48attached to disc 49 from following the head 44 in its upward movement.Accordingly, when the head 44 is moved upward by red 53, the presserarms 45 are in eifect projected downward and at the same time are spreadradially apart or in an outward direction by reason of the inclinationof the slots 45. The presser head assembly selected for illustration inFig. 4 is one associated with a forming die 4|. Such forming die isaxially aligned with the head 44. As the die rises in response to upwardtravel of the platen |3, the frusto-conical portion thereof enters andpasses through an opening 39 in the table 23. As the frustrum of the dieapproaches the head 44, the studs 63 on the platen engage rods 61 andelevate plate 56. As a result, the head 44 moves upward incorrespondence with the movement of the platen l3 leaving the presserarms 46 to traverse the conical portion of the die. At the start ofupward movement of the head 44, the rollers 41 on the arms 46 arealigned with the outer edge of the frustrum of the die. As the headmoves upward, however, the arms 46 are cammed outward, causing therollers 41 to follow the conical formation of the die. Inasmuch as thehead 44 is being rotatively driven at this time, the rollers 4'! revolveabout the forming die, and, by their combined rotary and radialmovements, exercise a forging or extrusion action upon the workinterposed between the rollers and the die.

During the latter part of the upward travel of the platen I3, the table23 is caused to move with the platen so that a support will be providedfor that portion of the work not being acted upon by the rollers 41.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, a plurality of shafts have their one endsanchored in the fixed plate I2 and extend downward through registeringopenings in the table 23 and platen l3 adjacent respective posts ll.Surrounding each shaft 16 and pressed into the table 23 is a bushing 11with which the shaft has a sliding fit. The lower end of the bushing 71is outturned to engage the underside of the table 23 and rests upon anannular shoulder 16a on shaft 16. The table 23 thus normally issupported at spaced points by the shoulders 16a on the shafts 1B. Acylinder 18 is loosely mounted on the top of table 23 in surroundingrelation to each shaft 16, the top of the cylinder being spaced from theplate l2 a distance corresponding to and defining the extent of risepermitted the platen I3. Extending into each cylinder 18 and interposedbetween the plate i2 and table 23 is a coil spring 19. As the platen l3rises, it engages the underside of table 23 at the relatively broad sideedges thereof at about the same time that the frusto-conical portions onthe forming dies 31 and 4| pass through the table. In response tocontinued motion of the platen, therefore, the table 23 is carriedupward and such motion is continued until the cylinders 18 contact theunderside of plate l2, the cylinders I8 thus providing a positive limitof upward travel for the platen l3 and table 23. Upon descent of turnthe table 23 downward to its normal posi- 6 tion. The shafts I6 serve asguides to maintain the table 23 and platen l3 in parallelism.

In the operation of, the machine, the parts normally are positioned asshown in Fig. l with the platen |3 in its lowermost position. At thistime, the reciprocating member 26 is moved fully inward. Upon actuationof the four Way valve control I9, the platen I3 is caused to rise, and,in response thereto, the reciprocating member 26 is moved outward. Whenthe reciprocating member is at the limit of its outward travel, a flatmetal blank, which may have its edges inturned, is placed upon theslideway 24. Now, when the control valve I9 acts to cause descent of theplaten l3, the reciprocating member 26 is efiective to push the metalblank into position upon the plate 35. On the succeeding upward travelof the platen l3, the forming dies 31 pass through the openings 36 inplate 35 and contact the metal blank supported thereon. As the conicalportions 38 on the dies 31 pass through the openings 35, contact of theplaten with the table 23 occurs, and the table and platen move upwardtogether carrying the blank into cooperative relation with the presserhead assemblies. Rotation of the presser head assemblies by electricmotor 62 has previously been initiated so that the heads 44 now arerotating and carry the arms 46 about the axis of the dies 31. As upwardmotion of the platen I3 and table 23 continues, studs 68 contact rods 61to raise plate 68 and lift rods 63 and heads 44. The arms 46, carryingrollers 41, remain to contact the metal blank and under the influence ofcontinuously applied axial pressure through the dies 3'! and by reasonof the rotary force imparted through heads 44, the rollers 41 press themetal of the blank into conformance with the slope of the conicalportions of the dies. Within the zone acted upon by the rollers 41, themetal of the blanks is in effect extruded, a rotary forging operationtaking place which thins the metal without alteration in the originaldimensions of the blank. Limiting of the upward travel of the platen I3is pro-detenmined to coincide with the arrival of the rollers 41 at thebase of the conical portions of the dies, and there is thus formed inthe blank a plurality of spaced frusto-conical shaped cavities which areseparated from one another by a web of material of the originalthickness of the blank. Similarly, the metal overlying the frustrums ofthe forming dies retains the original thickness of the blank. Asemi-finished pan, as shown in Fig. 6, thus is produced, the extrudedportions of the blank comprising a tapered side wall 82 and originalplane of the blank.

The forming dies 4| are designed to operate upon a blank which has beensemi-finished by reason of having been acted upon by the forming dies31. Thus, a blank shaped by the dies 31 is inverted and re-inserted inthe machine upon the slideway 25. There, it is moved by thereciprocating member 21 into cooperative relation with the forming dies4| and their associated presser head assemblies. The extruded portionsof the blank previously formed by the dies 31 are received by the dies4| within the depressions 43 therein, this operation being indicated inFig. 4. The shaping of the blank by the dies 4| is accomplished insubstantially the same manner as that described in connection with thedies 37. The depressions 43 in the frustums of the dies 4| define anannular wall on the working ends of the dies 4|, which, in turn, definesan annular space in the finished pan between the inner and outer a ltheree th -finished: r n as shown 7, includes a tapered wall 84, 1 lin di a rect o p o i t e taper of inner wall 82, and a relatively thickbottom portion 85 interconnecting the walls 82 and 84. The conicalportions 42 of dies 41 being relatively longer than the conical portions38 of dies 31, the cavity formed in the second stage of the operation isrelatively deeper and wider than that" formed in the first stage. Thusthe portion 83 assumes the form of an elevation in the bottom of thelarger outer cavity.

It will be understood that a semi-finished pan and a finished pan areproduced simultaneously by the machine in a single operation. Thus,while the forming dies 31 are acting upon a flat metal blank, theforming dies 4| are operating at the same time upon a blank which hasbeen preshaped by the dies 31. It further is to be noted that as theplaten l3 and the table, 23 descend from a shaping operation, thesemi-finished and finished pans in the machine are automatically ejectedrearwardly by the new blanks being pushed into place by thereciprocating member 26. In the use of the machine it has been founddesirable to associate therewith a conveyor belt which receives asemi-finished pan ejected from the slideway 24 and returns it to thefront of the machine where the operator may pick it up, invert it, andplace it upon the slideway 25 at the same time that he places a newblank upon the slideway 24.

The rotary forging operation preferably is carried out in the presenceof an oil spray supplied through conduits 86. The discharged oilcollects in the tray I4 from whence it may be carried off to a place ofdrain.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for forming one-piece seamless baking pans characterized bya plurality of annular cavities or depressions, including a reciprocableplaten, first and second series of frusto-conical forming dies carriedby said platen in side-byside relation, the dies of said first seriesbeing smaller than the dies of said second series and the dies of saidsecond series being formed with a depression in the frustums thereof, arotatable head member for each said dies supported in axially spacedrelation thereto, a plurality of presser arms carried by each of saidhead membore for angular sliding motion relative to the axis thereof,means for rotating said heads, means for effecting relative slidingmotion between said heads and their respective arms in response toreciprocating motion of said platen to cause said presser arms totraverse said dies, means for mounting a fiat metal blank between saidfirst series of dies and its associated head members, and means formounting a blank preformed by said first series of dies between saidsecond series of dies and its associated head members, the preformedblank being inversely arranged relative to the flat metal blank and thetapers formed therein being received in the depressions in the frustumsof the dies of said second series.

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized by means operable bysaid platen for simultaneously advancing an unformed blank and apreformed blank into cooperative relation with said first and secondseries of dies respectively.

3. A machine for forming one-piece seamless baking pans characterized bya plurality of annular cavities or depressions. including a reciprocableplaten, first and second series of frustoconical forming dies carried bysaid platen in side-by-side relation, the dies of said first seriesbeing smaller than the dies of said second series and the dies of saidsecond series being each formed with a depression in the irustumthereof, a rotatable presser head assembly associated with each of saiddies and including presser arms longitudinally to traverse the taper ofsaid die, and means for mounting metal blanks in said machine to haveportions thereof extruded over said forming dies by said presser arms,the blank acted upon by said second series of dies being one previouslyshaped by said first series of dies and reversely arranged, the extrudedportions thereof being received in the depressions in the frustums ofsaid second series of dies.

4. A machine for forming an annular cavity in a fiat metal blank,including a reciprocable platen, first and second forming dies mountedon said platen in side-by-side relation, a presser head assemblyoverlying each said dies and including presser arms to embrace saidforming dies, means for mounting a metal blank to have a portion thereofrolled over said first die by the presser arms of the associated headassembly, means for mounting a blank pro-shaped by said first formingdie to have a portion thereof annularly spaced from the pro-shapedportion rolled over said second forming die, the preshaped blank beinginverted for operation thereon by said second die, and a depression insaid second die to receive the re-shaped portion of the blank.

5. A machine according to claim 4, characterized by operating controlsfor said platen and said head assemblies to efiect in a singlereciprocating motion of said platen the production of one pro-shapedblank and one finished blank.

6. A machine for producing semi-finished and finished rotary forgedpans, comprising a reciprocable platen, first and second sets of formingdies carried by said platen, means for supporting a flat metal blank anda semi-finished blank in spaced overlying relation to said first andsecond sets of dies respectively, first and second sets of rotatablepresser head assemblies overlying said blank supporting means, said diesand said presser head assemblies cooperating to extrude portions of saidblanks by a rotary forging action, the dies of said second set beingrecessed to receive the extruded portions of the blank formed by thedies of said first set, and means for automatically feeding and ejectingthe Work to and from the machine, blanks semi-finished by said first setof dies being inverted and reinserted in the machine to be acted upon bysaid second set of dies.

EUGEN STIEFELMAYER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 65,035 Young May 21, 1867 344,459 Paull June 29, 1886 460,550Bodge Oct. 6, 1891 816,694 Watzke Apr. 3, 1906 1,497,001 Rotherham June10, 1924 1,903,592 Hiester May 2, 1933 1,953,934 Hiester Apr. 10, 19341,994,034 Carroll Mar. 12, 1935 2,097,356 Truesdale Oct. 26, 1937

